Stand with retractable cover



Jan. 24, 3%? J. F. STOLFQ 3299,32

STAND WITH RETRACTABLE COVER Filed Oct. 23, 1965 II 33 INVENTOR.

' JOHN F. STOLFO BY v- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,299,932 STAND WITH RETRACTABLE COVER John F. Stolfo, 2239 19th St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,992 6 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates to the art of storage stands and in particular has reference to a storage stand having a retractable cover.

This invention has particular utility to the storage of newspapers at pre-selected distribution points but may also have equal applicability to other uses as well.

At the present time newspapers destined for home delivery are generally assembled at the publishing plant into bundles containing pre-selected numbers of papers. These bundles are then identified by labeling or stamping with the name of the carrier or newspaper boy and the location of the distribution point.

The bundles are then transported to the various distribution points and generally are merely deposited on the ground until such time as the individual newspaper boy retrieves the same to begin his house-to-house delivery.

It has been found in practice that in the normal instance varying amounts of time will elapse between the time the bundles are deposited at the distribution points and the time the papers are picked up by the newspaper boy.

In periods of inclement weather such as when it is raining or snowing the papers are often damaged during this period of time by the elements to the ultimate inconvenience and dissatisfaction of the customer.

While it would be physically possible to wrap the bundles in protective materials to alleviate this problem the cost of the same would be prohibitive in the normal instance.

Accordingly, it has been found that by providing a rigid stand that the bundles may be deposited on such a stand and held free and clear of any surface moisture.

It has further been found that by providing a cover that can be moved into and out of covering relationship with the top of said stand that the papers can also be protected from the elements such as rain or snow.

Furthermore, it has been discovered that if the cover element is provided with means to normally urge the same to uncovered relationship and if locking elements are provided to hold the same in covering relationship that papers deposited on the stand can be easily covered and uncovered and that the cover may be retained in place securely.

Accordingly, production of an improved newspaper storage stand of the type having the above advantages becomes the principal object of this invention, with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved stand showing newspapers in place thereon and the cover in covering relationship.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the improved stand showing the cover member in retracted position.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation partially broken away and in section showing the cover member in retracted position.

Turning first then to a description of the stand itself attention is first directed to FIGURE 1 wherein the base, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown 3 ,299,932 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 supporting a retractable cover member 20 that may be withdrawn for the purpose of covering a stack of newspapers received on base 10.

The base 10 per se includes opposed parallel side walls 11 and 12 and opposed parallel end walls 13 and 14, secured at right angles to said side walls so as to basically form a box of rectangular configuration in plan.

Over-lying the side and end Walls is a top member 15 with this member being shown, in the form of the invention disclosed herein, as an integral extension of side member 12 with it being understood that the top member could be a separate piece if desired.

It will also be noted from FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 that top member 15 has a scalloped top surface consisting of parallel longitudinal depressions 15b, 15b interconnected by a series of longitudinal ridges 15c, 15c. Disposed in random positions in the depressions 15b, 15b are a series of holes 15d, 15d and in this fashion any moisture which accumulates on the top 15 of the base 10 will tend to accumulate in the depressions 15b, 15b and drain through the holes 15d, 15d. Similarly the papers P, when placed on the top of the stand 10, will tend to rest on ridges 15c, 15c and thus be suspended above any moisture which may have accumulated on the top of the stand.

Turning next then to the means for covering the papers P once the same have been placed on the stand 10 it should be noted that side wall 11 has a longitudinal flange 11a on its top edge while top member 15 is turned down adjacent side 11 and has a reverse flange 15a thereon that is spaced from flange 11a of side wall 11. The result of this structure is to form an elongate opening 16 in the side of the base 10 between flanges 11a and 15a for purposes to be described below.

Turning next then to the cover mechanism it will be noted that a spring loaded roll 30 is journaled between the end walls 13 and 14 of the base 10. This roll 30 is secured for rotational movement on axle 31 which is in turn secured to the end walls 13 and 14 by conventional nuts and bolts 32, 32. The roll 30 is actuated by spring 33 in conventional fashion often used in Window shade construction which tends to urge the roll in counterclockwise direction in the form of the invention shown.

One end of cover 20 is secured to roll 30 which is constructed of flexible material such as canvas. The remainder of the cover 20 is normally wrapped about roll 30 with the opposed end thereof carrying a rigid elongate plate 21. This end of the cover is shown as slightly tapered for access through slot 16 and plate 21 substantially covers the end of the cover to give added stability thereto and also to prevent fraying. The plate 21 in turn has a wedge-shaped, rigid locking member 22 releasably secured thereto by screws 22a, 22a for purposes to be described below.

It should be noted here that locking member 22 is of such a dimension that the same will bind against flanges 11a and 15a so that notwithstanding the fact that spring 33 tends to turn the roll 30 in a counterclockwise direction the end of the cover 20 cannot be pulled back through the slot 16 and thus remains accessible to the user. (See FIGURE 3.)

By the same token, the wedge-shaped locking member 22 is releasably secured to the plate 21 so that when repair of roll 30 or cover 20 becomes necessary and it is desired to retract the end of the cover 20 through the opening or slot 16 the member 22 need merely be removed and the remaining structure will easily pass through the opening.

The wedge-shaped locking member 22 also has an aperture 23 in its projecting end with this aperture being of suflicient size to engage the hook 40 that is secured to the opposed side 12 of the base 10. Thus when plate 22 is engaged on the hook 40 the cover 20 will be secured in covering relationship to the base notwithstanding the fact that the spring 33 normally urges the cover 20 to uncovering relationship.

In use or operation it will be assumed that the stand is assembled to the condition shown in FIGURE 3 with cover 20 retracted. The bundle of newspapers P is then placed on top 15 of the base and rests on the ridges 15c, 15c thereof.

The user need then merely grasp the locking member 22, pull the cover over the papers P and secure the same on the hook 40. In this position the papers will be protected from the elements until such time as the newspaper boy retrieves the same.

When it is desired to obtain access to the papers it is merely necessary to unhook plate 22 from hook 40 and the normal force of the spring 33 will tend to return the cover to the position of FIGURE 3.

It has been shown then how by providing a base with a retractable cover and with means for securing the cover in extended position that newspapers or other objects can be protected from the elements While permitting quick and easy access to the same.

It has also been shown how the contoured top of the base will also serve to protect papers stored on said base.

It should be noted that no particular material has been prescribed for the base 10 with it being understood that any rigid material such as metal, plastic or wood for example could be utilized.

Similarly while the cover 20 has been described as being of canvas or tarpaulin material it should be understood that any flexible fabric could be utilized with it being preferred that the material be substantially impervious to moisture.

Also, while the normal means for securing the cover 20 in covering relationship is by engaging plate 22 with hook 40, it should be understood that in some instances a large number of papers may be placed on the stand so that the cover 20 will be of insufficient length to enable such engagement with hook 40. In this event the cover will be pulled out to its full extent, placed over the top of the papers and then the plate 22 will be inserted between adjacent bundles of papers with the weight of the papers pressing on the plate 22 being normally sufiicient to retain the cover 20 in extended covering position.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment herein shown. Accordingly, modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A protective stand of the character described, comprising:

(A) a base having (1) opposed parallel side walls with one of said side Walls having an elongate opening therein, (2) opposed parallel end walls interconnecting said side Walls and (3) a top surface; (B) a flexible retractable cover (1) suspended between said end walls beneath said top surface and (2) having one end projecting through said opening in said side wall and (3) being adapted to be drawn into covering relationship with said top surface of said base. 2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the presence of tension means normally urging said cover presence of locking means carried by said cover and said opposed side wall whereby said cover may be retained in covering relationship with said top surface of said base.

6. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said top surface has a series of longitudinal ridges thereon whereby articles received on said top surface will rest on said ridges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,277 5/1913 Guricke 16023 2,492,262 12/1949 Boyden et al. -52

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE STAND OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING: (A) A BASE HAVING (1) OPPOSED PARALLEL SIDE WALLS WITH ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING AN ELONGATED OPENING THEREIN; (2) OPPOSED PARALLEL END WALLS INTERCONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS AND (3) A TOP SURFACE; (B) A FLEXIBLE RETRACTABLE COVER (1) SUSPENDED BETWEEN SAID END WALLS BENEAWTH SAID TOP SURFACE AND (2) HAVING ONE END PROJECTING THROUGH SAID OPENING SAID SIDE WALL AND (3) BEING ADAPTED TO BE DRAWN INTO COVERING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID BASE. 